NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Marcus Mariota can hardly wait for the start of the regular season.
In less than two weeks, the Titans will face the Buccaneers in Week One.
"I have lived my entire life for this. It is an opportunity to go out there and fulfill a dream,'' Mariota said. "I am excited, but my head is not past Thursday and the Vikings and making sure I am ready for that."
With three preseason games under his belt, there's a chance the rookie quarterback won't play against the Vikings at Nissan Stadium. On Monday, coach Ken Whisenhunt reiterated he still hasn't made a decision on whether Mariota will see action.
He's considering holding him out, something he did with the starters in last year's preseason finale
"I think it's a feeling,'' Whisenhunt said. "We'll see where it is after a week of practice."
Mariota, selected second overall by the Titans, feels he's made significant improvements since the start of training camp. In three games he's completed 19-of-27 passes for 252 yards, along with an interception.
His completion percentage of 70.4 is impressive to everyone but Mariota.
"Statistics don't matter to me, just as long as we win the football game,' Mariota said. "As we go forward, I can always put the ball in better places, I can make better decisions and that is what I will continue to do, to try and improve in those areas."
So what does Mariota need to improve on before the start of the season, on September 13?
"Taking care of the football, making better decision, hopefully putting our team in a better spot to get first downs. Just the operation of things, how to handle the play-clock and things like that. I thought we've handled it pretty well, but I can always get better at it,'' he said.
"I think as an offense we've gotten better over the course of the last three weeks, and as we go forward we will continue to improve and get ready for the season...This is just the beginning and I'll continue to do my best."
